Spring-propelled vehicle



(No Model.) 4 sheets4sheef 1.

y D. M. PFAUTZ. i SPRINGVPROPBLLED VEHICLE. vNo. 357,289. Patented Feb. 8, 1887.

(No Model.)

4sheetsl-sheet 2'. D. M. PFAUTZ. SPRING PRGPELLBD VEHICLE.

Patented Peb.

INVENTOR 4.. t e e h S e e h S 4 T U A nr. P M D.

(No Model.)

` SPRING PROPBLLED VEHICLE.

Patented Feb.

INVENTOR .WITNESSES:

NrrED STATES PATENT Giudica@Y DANIEL rEAurrz, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoETo THE PEILADELPHIA- LocoMorrvEsvEHroLE AND srArioNAEv-Moron 00M- PANY, oE NEW JEEsEY- VsPRllNiG-ERoFELLEo VEHICLE.

,SPEOIPICATlQNIorming part of Letters Patent No. 357,289, dated February 8, ,1887;y

Applicanon'med my iq, ieee. serial No. 201.744. (No man.)

.To all whom t mag/concern: by means ot' nuts a a, onc inside and thc other 5o De it known that I, DANIEL M. PFAUTZ, a outside of the flange.` The outer end of the cltizen of the United States, and a .resident 'spoke fits into sockets in the rim of the wheel of lhiladelphia,` State of Pennsylvanimhave andis'secured in place by means'of nuts a', as 5 invented a new and useful Improvement in is shown inv Fig. l. 4

VehiclesPropelled by Spring-Motors,of'which On the insideof the hub is a projection, c, 55 the following is a `true and exact description, to which is secured a spur-gearing, c, Fig. 2, due reference being had to the accompanying which transmits the power given by the springl drawings, which form a part hereof. motors, to be hereinafter described, and by a 1o By my invention I am enabled not only to which motion ,is given to the vehicle.

construct a vehicle capable of being 4propelled 'The power to propel'the vehicle is'produccd 60 by spring-motor power, but by several novel` 'byanurnber of coiled bands of steel arranged mechanical featureslarn enabledA to so arrange upon the axle C. These bands of steel are the spring-motors and other parts of the vehieach coiled in wheels D and E, forming a 'case 1 5 cle that l can regain the powerof thesprings, 'for the band or spring, as shown in Figs. 6

'and also by hand-power assist propulsion over and Z. One of. thesewheels, D, hasta rim or 65 lsteepgrades, or-propelled entirely by means of flange, d, near the, outer ledge-"the flange behandPOWe' A' ing the same widthas the steel band. The. w. The vehicle or carriage to' be propelled may otherQwheel, E, has a hub, e, also lthe same zo be of the' ordinary form, with the exception width as the steel band. The steel band -is that the front wheel yor wheels must be .so arcoiled in a novel manner, one end beingsecured 7o ranged as to admit of being easily turnedvfrom to the outer rim or flange, d, of the wheel D, the carage-seat, to enablethe vehicle crean 'the other end being secured to the-hub e of the riageto be guided in any direction desired.`v wheel E. It will be thus seen by this novel i f 2 5 ln the drawings, Figure lis an outsidev elemethod of winding the ,steel band thatthe vation o f my carriage or vehicle.. Fig. 2 isa. wheel E, which acts as the winding-wheel, and 75 .plan view with`seat removed and levers in secthe wheel D, which acts as the 'driving-wheel,

' tion. Fig. 3 isa section showing'operation of will both rotate in the saine directionthat is, 'band'brake and steel motori-spring and clutch in winding or tightening` the spring the wind 3o device. Figs.` 4 and 5 show'method of disconing-wheel E is revolved in the same direction nectin'g the driving-shaft. AFig. 6 is auelevaas the driving-wheel D is when said spring is 8o tionshowing winding driving-wheel and band loosened ,'so as'to'revolve said dri ving-wheel D. bral'ze..l Fig. 7`-isa central section ofsame, On the outside of the rim or ange d is an 'showing'rubber band for, lugs to fall upon..A Vadjustable bandbrake,'F, being Amore 'clearly 35 Figs. r8,'9., andlO show my indicator` de'vicej shown in Fig'. 3. This `band'lralre is made Eg-11, 'aside elevation of wooden -band-wheelf adj'ustable'by means of threaded end f and nut 8 5 brake 'with footflever connectidn. Figs. 12,l ff2, working upon la lughf'. rlhese adjust'- ',13,." and .letshow'l the indicating device and able `band-brakes are operated b'y means of method' of operating; the saine.`l Figs. l5, 16, levers Gfeqnal in number Yt-o the springs used 4in-and 17'1 show.- the divided driving-shaft and inthe carriage or vehicle. These levers .are

the method of separating and connecting the placed inthe front of the carriage, as seen in v9o two portions.` of lthe said"f divided shaft. Figs. land 3, and are connected'withtheadjusty The vehicle, as` shown in the drawings, isl able 'band-brakes F by the link-connection g. carried rby threewheels, in whichthe rear y Both wheels, D and E have spur-gearing on 45 wheels, A`,are the driving-wheels and the lfront their outer edges. the wheels D being the driv wheel,.B, the guiding-wheel. These wheels are ing and wheels E being the winding wheels. '95 preferably ma'deof steel and adjustable. 'lhe- The winding-wheels E have ratchet-ilanges` hub is flanged, lthrough which the spokes,v eon theside of the spur-gearing, into which preferably made of steel, pass and are'seoured' pawls e2 drop and prevent the wheel revolving in an opposite direction, as is shown, Fig. l. These pawls have a lug projection, which drops upon a rubber projection, c", on the wheel E at the same time thc said pawls drop into the ratchet, so as to prevent the noise of the striking pawls from becoming ldisagreeable, as shown inFig. 7. The springis wound Vupon the winding-wheel E by means of a pinion geared into it on the winding-shaft H.-

` driving-wheels l) will commence to revolve from the tension ci' the springs. The driving-wheels l) revolve upon the axle (l, being gearedinto ascrics of small pinions, i, secured to driving-shaft I.l Upon the ends of said drivingshaft I is rigidly secured a large spurwheel, i', which is geared into the spur-wheels c', and thus revolves the main axle of the oarriage. ihis drivingshaft I is also suspended from the bottoni ot' the carriage by any suitable means. Upon the driving-shaftI are also pinions i", normally ruiming idle, connecting with the winding-wheels by spring-clutch, as shown in Fig. 2. These pinions ordinarily run idle; but when there is excess of motionas, for example, when the carriage or vehicle is moving down a grade-then, by means ofthe levers J, equal in number to the spring-motors used, as shown, Fig. I, and in the front of the carriage or other vehicle, and the bell-crank lcverjand link j, I am enabled to throw these pinions il, or any of them, into connection with the winding-wheels E, and thus the excess of mot-ion is used to wind up the springs and renew the power. In the arm of the seat of the carriage I also place a wheel, K, which is so arranged that I can attach to it a crank. This wheel K is connected to another wheel, K', by means of chain gearing. This wheel K carries upon its shaft a pinion, 7.', which is normally geared int-o the spur-gearing i on the drivingshaft, so that I am enabled, while sitting in the carriage, tov assist vinuthe propulsion of the vehicle, andif, foranyreason,the spring-motor power should entirely cease, I am enabled to propel the vehicle by hand-power.

Upon thesame shaft and behind the pinion k is a larger pinion, if, which can be shifted by means of a clutch-lever, M, in gear with the pinion N on the winding-shaft, to tighten the springs and store up power while sitting in the seat.

I construct mydrivingshaft in two sections, connected together at the center by means of a spring-clutch, as shown in Figs. 4. and 5. This spring-clutch is constructed in the following manner: One clutch, O, is rigidly secured on one portion of the drivingshaft, while the other, O', slides upon a key, o, upon the other This y portion of the shalt. This spring-clutch is operated by means of the levers 'connecting with a spring foot-treadle, o', extending lup in front of the seat. `By placing the foot upon the springtrcadle the spring-clutch is released and the driving-shaft is separated into two sections. This enablesL me .to pass around very sharp curves and also pass around curves at greater speed. Directly back of thelspnrgear wheel c is a wooden brake-wheel, rigidly. secured to the axle C. 0n these wooden wheels are placed adjustable band-brak es. (Shown in Fig. ll.) These band-brakes are constructed similarly to the adj ustablc band-brake heretofore explained. These band-brakes are ccnnectcd to a shaft running across the carriage, and connectthe brakes on the two rear wheels. Running across the carriage directly in front of the wooden band-brake wheels is a shaft.

Iivoted upon said shaft at either end are two short levers, l, to which the ends of the bandbrake are connected by means of pins. These levers I are operated by means of links Jp, connected with the arms of the -rock-shaftp, to the center of which is secured a depending arm, p2, to which a link, p, is connected with the spring fcot-trcadle, as shown in Fig. 11. By placing the foot upon this treadle the speed may be regulated at the will of the driver, and the brake is released hy removing the foot from the treadle.

To enable the driver at any time to judge the amount of power in any one of the springs, I lplace on the front of each quadrant holding the levers in front of the riders seat in the carriage or vehicle a series of graded indicators, It, as shown in Fig. 10, equal in number to the winding-shafts. This indicatoris moved up and down by means'of the power which is transmitted by the bevel-gearing r r', which is connected to the driving-wheel. D and winding-wheel E.

As the driving and wind-ing wheels both move in the same direction, it is necessary to provide intermediate gearing which will reverse the direction of the motion derived from either the driving or winding wheel. I 'do this in the following manner: The indicator mechanism before described is directly connected with the driving-wheel I), and therefore is moved in the same direction; but it is moved by the winding-wheel E by means-of two gearwheels, one of which receives motion directly from the windingwheel, and then this wheel moves the second wheel in an opposite direction and moves the indicator-shaft in the same direction as the second wheel, but in an opposite direction to that of the drivingshaft, as is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Thetfront wheel, B, of the carriage is operated in the following manner: On the front of the carriage or vehicle is a hollow post, S, in which is a shaft, by which the bracket which. carries the front wheel is operated.' At the top of the shaft S is placed a segmental projcction, s, upon which'a lever-arm, c', capable of being extended to any desired length, is

IIO

Q ir-raisers corr the position desired by the. rider.

Having new described my invention, what I claim as new,ai 1d desire to secure byl Letters Patent, is-- .Y

V1'.4 I n a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring=motors, a series of spring-motors seconsisting' of steel bands .coiled yivithin two,

v cured upon the main wheels, ogetvheel having a flange,`theotl1er wheel a hub, saidhub and flange being. each equal in width to the width of the steel bands, one end of said band being secured to the hub 'of being lsecured to the flange of the otherwheel, said wheels being constructed to move freely upon their axles when in operation, said wheels both revolving in the samedirection,

' andthe spring in operation becomes uncoiled from its outer surface, the purpose specified.

i 2.- Ina'carriage or'otlier vehicle propelled by spring-motors, a series of spring-motors constructed as described,- in combination with aband-brake, one end of said band-brake being attached to a'stationary rod in` the lever and the other end passing through the other en d of the lever through a swinging rod, with means for adjusting said. last-mentioned end of the bandf-bralge, said band-brake beingl o perated by'means .of levers placedjin'lfront of the carriage, substantially as and for the" purpose specified.'

3. In ,a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring-motors, a series of spring-motors seaxle, .said spring-motors consisting 'of lsteel bands coiled withiir two wheels, one wheel having a'fiange, the other wheel a-hub, said hub-and A equal in'vvidth to the width ofthe steel bands, one end'of said band'being secured tothe huh of one wheel and the other end of said band being said wheels lbeing constructed to move freely 4upon their axles when 4in operation, said wheels both revolving in the same direction, and the spring in operation becomes uncoile'd from its outersurface, thehubbed Wh'ee1`,whieh acts'A as the winding-wheel, having upon the side of the spur-gearing ratchet-flanges, into which pawls drop for the purpose of 'prevent-l ing 'rotation in more than one direction, substantiall y as and for the purpose specified.

4'. In acarriagelor other -vehicle propelled by spring-motors, cured upon the main axle,.sa`id spring-motors consisting of steel bands coiled 'within two. wheels, one Wheel having wheel a hub, said-hub and" equal in lWidth to the width'of the steel band-s, me' end of said band being seeurt-dv if one wheel and the other. end 'of substantially as and for flan'ge being-each said band` wheel,.having upon ing ratchet-anges,

o ne Wheel and the otlierend of saif'band flange being each* secured to the flange of the other wheel,

.- crank levers j,

a series of spring-motors lsea `flange, ther-other.

tothe hub. b

K', said Wheels K being secured' to theflangeof the other wheel, the hubbed wheel,which acts as the winding the side .of the spur-gear into which pawlsfdrop for the purpose of preventing rotation in more" than one direction, said pawls having lug projections which drop upon rubber projections on the winding-wheel at thesame time the said pawls drop into the ratchet, substantially as and for the purpose specified'. y

5. In a carriage orotlier vehicle propelled by springmotors,'a series'of springinotors se.-

cured upon the main axle, said spring-motors consisting of steel bands coiled vvithin t-wo Wheels, one wheel having a,'il'ange, the other wheel a hub, said hub and flange being each equal in width to thc'width ot' the steel bands, one end of said baud being secured to the hub oi" one wheeland the other end of said band [being secu red to -the fiange of' the other Wheel,

ou which the hubbed wheel acts as thewinding-wheel, in combination with pinions fixed upon a shaltsuspendcd from the bottom of the vehicle, said pinions Working into t'he spur-l gearing on the windingwheels, said shaft, which carries the pinions, running across the vehicle, and having upon its ends shank projections upon which the purpose of winding the springs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring-1notors,a series of spring-motors sccured upon the main'axlc, said spring-motors consisting of steel bands coiled within two wheels, one wheel having a flange, the other Wheel4 a hub, said hub and equal in'width to the width of the steel bands, one end of said ba'nd being secured to the hub of one Wheel and the other end of said band bei-ng secured to the flange of the other wheel, said Wheels, which have a flange-projection, actingas drivingwvlieels, said drivingwheels being geared i nto a series of small pinionssecured to the driving-shaft, said driving-shaft being suspended from the bottom of the vehicle, secured on ends of 'said drivingshatt,and spurwlieels secured upoiIt-he main axle, into which the spur-Wheelon the ends of the driving-shaft is geared, all constructed and acting substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a carriage or other Vehicle propelled by spring-motors, i, normally running idle and secured upon the combination of pinions the driVing-shaft'Land a springclutch oper'- ated by levers J in front of the vehicle, bell and linksj, for the purpose of connecting any one or all o f said pinions with gearing upon the winding-wheels, substanf t-ially as and for the purpose specified.

8.. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by springrnotoral Wheels K, placed vin the arrns of the seat of the vehicle and so arranged that a crank canl be attached to it, said-wheels elng connectedrby chain4 gearing with wheels cranks can be placed for in combination with large spur-wheel 1 carrying upon them shaft- POO flange being each 4. l nieuwe pinionsk, said pinions lc being normally geared into the spur-gearing i on the driving-shaft, substantially ns and for the purpose Specified.

9. In n cui-.ringe or other vehicle propelled by spring-motors, the pinion k, secured upon the same shaft as pinions K', said pinion 76" being capable of being shifted in geurby menus ofelutch-lever Mm'ith pinion N, secured upon the winding-shaft7 substantially as und for the purpose specifiedA 10. In u carriage or other vehicle propelled by springniotors, n clutch for the purpose of connectingorsepzu'nting the (hiring-shaft, construetcd in two sections, consisting of clutch O, rigidly secured tc one portion of said driviug'slmft, while clutch 0 slides upon key c upon the other portion of the shaft, substantially ns and for the purpose specied.

1l. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring-motors, a clutch for the purpose of connecting orseparuting the driving-shaft, constructed -in two sections. consisting of clutch O, rigidly secured to one portion of said driving-shaft, while clutch O slides vupon key o upon the other portion of the driving-shaft, said spring-clutch being operated by means of levers connecting with a spring foot-tieadle, o', extending up in front of the drivers sent, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

12.111 a. carriage or other vehielepropelled 30 by spring-motors, the wooden brake-wheels having placed upon them adjustable bandbrakcs, said band-brakes being connected with a shaft running across the vehicle, said shaft connecting the brakes on thetwo rear'wheels, 35 und a. shalt running across said vehicle in front of Said shaft, which connects said band brakes, pivoted on said 1ast-mentioned shaft being levers P, operated by links p, connected with the ermsof rock-shaft p', having dependent arm 4o pi, secured 'to it at its center7 said arm p being connected with a. spring foot-treadle by means of link p3, all constructed and acting substnutially .as and. for the purpose specified.,

13. Tn e. canin or other vehicle propelled 45 by springmotors, an indicator device which consists of the combination of indicator R and bevel-gearing i o", said bevel-gearing being connected with' the Winding and' driving wheels, substantially as and in the manner and 5c for the purpose specified.

DANEL M. PFAUTZ.

VJitnesses:

RICHD. S. CHILD, J r., JosHUAMA'rLAoK, Jr. v 

